Ken’s Lake irrigation water users may be able to start using the system as early as next week, but will see their normal allotments cut in half, Grand Water and Sewer Service Agency officials decided on Monday, April 15.

During a special meeting that replaced their regular April 18 meeting, GWSSA board members unanimously voted to impose a mandatory 50 percent reduction in irrigation water usage for its customers, and set the target date for the system start up at no earlier than April 25 and no later than April 29. GWSSA manager Mark Sovine said the agency would mail out a letter to all irrigation customers early next week informing them of the details.

Despite a recent spate of storms, the water level in the Ken’s Lake reservoir remains at record-low levels. The lake measured 418 acre-feet of water on April 1, still only about one-third of its average amount of water this time of year.

Sovine said that water pumped from wells will likely be needed to supplement the Ken’s Lake irrigation water, even with the allowable usage cut in half for irrigation customers. Further restrictions may still be needed later, board members cautioned at the meeting.

“We’ll start with that and see how it goes,” said board member Gary Wilson.

The restrictions imposed by GWSSA don’t apply to culinary-only customers, nor do they affect irrigation water users who aren’t GWSSA customers, including those in-town users who are serviced by the Moab Irrigation Company.

Even so, local and state water officials are encouraging all residents to conserve water and apply responsible watering practices throughout the upcoming season.

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